RUNWAY HANDBAGS - SPRING 2016 RTW

I'm happy to see fun handbags coming down the runway again! I like clean, straightforward leather goods as much as the next girl, but I'm also officially tired of talking about "minimalist wardrobe essentials". Simplicity has its place, but it's refreshing to see something new. Luckily SS16 offers plenty of statement colors, interesting textures, and cool, conversation-starting details (I love the little white flower detail on the Dolce & Gabbana, below).

And although these examples are technically for spring, I can't help thinking of how useful they'd be for holiday parties. They're small enough to compete with your go-to christmas party clutch, but large enough to fit your iPhone 6 Plus. And see all those handles and straps? Now, with your evening bag held safely on your wrist or shoulder, you can easily hold a glass of champagne in one hand and take a group photo of your coworkers with the other. No more silly juggling with handleless envelope clutches (or putting down drinks)!

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Chloe, Burberry Prorsum, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Dolce & Gabbana (clockwise). Photos courtesy of Vogue.com. 

FRATERNITÉ

I usually don't like to post about serious events in the news. For some reason it always just feels "off" to me. As if it's more respectful for me to stay quiet. As if it's not my place to speak or share, but to quiet my voice and listen. It's really just a personal thing. 

But on Friday my feelings were different. This time I unexpectedly felt the urge to make something. To express my love and sympathy, but moreover my deep respect for a place that has given me so much. Just something small. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

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"Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" on Nov 13, 2015 (2015) Watercolor and ink on card, 4 x 6 inches © 2015 Elise Vavrus Krohn

OFF YOU GO, OCTOBER!

"Autumn came, with wind and gold." - and is going by very quickly! I'm not saying fall is officially over, I'm just saying my coffee was in a Red Cup this morning and my mailbox was full of holiday catalogues... 

So in the spirit of trying to savor the season, here's a look at some of what kept me busy this month... Enjoy! EVK. 

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Quote from Henry David Thoreau's Walden. 

OFF-THE-SHOULDER INSPIRATION

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Amanda Norgaard + Structured Off-The-Shoulder - Copenhagen Fashion Week SS16 (2015) Marker, ink, pencil on archival bond, 11 x 8 inches © 2015 Elise Vavrus Krohn

If you follow me on Insta you've probably already noticed that I'm really into this summer's off-the-shoulder trend. Soft dresses and tops with exaggerated volume are interesting to sketch, and the new shapes seem to make for especially striking street-style and editorial images. These are just a few of the "off-the-shoulder girls" I've worked on recently. 

Last week, I came across a few photos of model Amanda Norgaard wearing this deep blue dress (above) while browsing through her City Guide to Copenhagen (for W Magazine). She just looked so cool and at ease, with her effortless, silky gold hair and her just-structured-enough skirt length. I wanted to sketch Amanda's look not only because it seemed to embody the relaxed-yet-lively vibe I encountered when I was in Copenhagen a few weeks ago, but also because it shows that an off-the-shoulder piece doesn't have to be beachy or boho or even casual at all. Here off-the-shoulder feels perfectly trim and together. I think the trend works best that way. 

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Off-The-Shoulder Girl (2015) Marker, ink, pencil on archival bond, 11 x 8 inches © 2015 Elise Vavrus Krohn

I was so into this Talulah Horatio dress that I tracked it down at Aritzia way back in March when there was still snow on the ground. I chose the frosty blue color instead of the white, and that's what inspired the sketch (above). Unfortunately, I haven't had nearly as much fun wearing the dress as I've had drawing it! It's ridiculous, really, but I just can't keep it on my shoulders. It looks okay when I'm standing still (or hunching a little like the model in the top right-hand photo) but if I take two steps it immediately falls down. No one else seems to be dealing with this issue though, so it's probably just me. 

Vanessa Hong @TheHautePursuit. Photo courtesy of Diego Zuko for Harpers Bazaar's The Street Clique. 

My drawing of Vanessa Hong wearing JH.ZANE at Paris Fashion Week FW15 (above) was the first off-the-shoulder sketch I did in 2015, back in early March. It's remained one of my most popular sketches this year. I still love the unusual semi-detached sleeves with their geometric folds. How can a top have all those ruffles but remain so minimal and perfectly pared-down? Above are the series of work-in-progress sketches I worked on leading up to my final version.

So how do you feel about the off-the-shoulder trend? Have you gotten a chance to try it out? Comment and let me know! Here are four of my favorite off-the-shoulder finalists to get you thinking! 

Top Left: Photo courtesy of ThatFashionBiatch. Top Right: Photo courtesy of ClassIsEternal + Esther Jung. Bottom Left: Photo courtesy of GlamRadar. Bottom Right: Photo courtesy of Vogue UK. 

EDINBURGH INSPIRATION + PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND

Two of my good friends recently got engaged, and so I spent last week over in Edinburgh, celebrating one of my favorite couples at their announcement party and spending time with many old (and new!) friends. When I wasn’t busy practicing my future bridesmaid skills (drinking Prosecco, ruining my new shoes on the dance floor, and hugging everyone), I spent my time out and about in one of my favorite cities. Edinburgh has turned into sort of a home-away-from-home for me, and by now I have a whole routine. I always revisit old haunts, hunt for antique books, fill up a sketchbook, and pretend there's no USD/GBP exchange rate.

Edinburgh-based inspiration. Top: Edinburgh Silhouette, painting by Bob Fraser © Bob Fraser (www.edinburgharts.com). Center: Edinburgh Castle, cutout from greeting card by Alljoy Design. Bottom: Lady Agnew of Locknaw (c.1893), John Singer Sargent, oil on canvas © The Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland. 

The Bride-To-Be knew I was wandering around looking for sketch inspiration and recommended the Pringle of Scotland 200th Anniversary exhibit at the National Museum over on Chambers St. (Fully Fashioned: The Pringle of Scotland Story, NMS 10 Apr 2015 – 16 Aug 2015). I'm so glad I had a chance to check it out! It may be a cute little exhibit, but it packs a big punch of fashion history. 

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I've always had a thing for Pringle of Scotland and I've always thought of it as a "heritage brand", but I hadn't really realized just how much their pioneering designs have influenced the way we think about sweaters and knitwear. In early 20th century Britain, a sweater was considered to be pretty much inappropriate for pretty much every occasion. Even for golf (see below). But the Pringle designers managed to take this hopelessly casual garment and elevate it completely, essentially inventing the idea of the modern "Fashion Sweater". 

The 20th century Pringle strategy was to "apply traditional dressmaking sensibilities to knitwear", basically to give the sweater the design it deserved. They knitted luxurious yarns into refined silhouettes, utilized elegant styling, and added embellishments (and celebrity endorsements), until the world was convinced that a well-made sweater was not only covetable and valuable, but a necessary component of any well-rounded "normal person" wardrobe.

That's a pretty big achievement, when you think about it! Talk about "brand heritage"! I mean, can you imagine a world without statement sweaters? Without “Sweater Weather”? What would we wear to our holiday parties? What would I wear all winter long?

Gloria Minoprio at the Ladies’ Close Championship, Westward Ho! (1933)

I also enjoyed the exhibit's commentary on the relationship between sweaters and sports. Given Pringle’s essential closeness with Scotland, it's unsurprising that the brand has enjoyed a particularly warm friendship with the world of professional golf. My favorite display was a minimal chic golfing ensemble worn by Gloria Minoprio in 1933 (below - on loan from the British Golf Museum in St. Andrews). Apparently Minoprio wasn't just a fierce athlete, she was a daring trendsetter as well. Her high-waisted purple trousers, tightly fitted navy blue sweater, and stylish little Paquin of London hat absolutely shocked her spectators. Today we’d probably consider it a pretty dressy outfit (especially for sports), but the 1930s press dubbed it scandelously casual and revealing. And it was the sweater that attracted the most heat. Some commentators even felt it represented a breakdown in etiquette of professional golf! 

Anyway, Gloria Miroprio and her sweater kind of captured my imagination. There was just something gutsy and cool about her look, a spirited, sporty confidence that I felt deserved a sketch (below). And I love how the Daily Mail described her appearance while playing in the outfit: "She looked like some goddess waving a flashing rapier..." 

Gloria Minoprio's Golf Ensemble, 1933 (2015) Marker, ink, pencil on archival bond, 11 x 8 inches © 2015 Elise Vavrus Krohn

Entry to exhibit is free, so if you're in the area you should take a look. You only need about 30 minutes. You could probably drop in on your lunch break, see the whole thing, and still have time to grab a cup of coffee in the Instagram-worthy Grand Hall on your way out of the museum (below)! #Pringle200Years @PringleScotland @nationalmuseumsscotland